Friday, 12 October 2012

Scrutiny

How do business consultants work?
 

They come into an organisation and ask questions.
 

They ask questions until they understand the working practises of the business.
 

They then ask the staff to reconsider the existing practises with a view to improvement and/or cost saving.
 

These ideas go into the final report.
 

If these consultants bring anything to the table themselves it will only be whatever is existing good practise within the industry or within other comparable industries.
 

All of the information is readily available. All that consultants do is put in place a process to allow this information to surface.
 

They also give this information credence in the eyes of management because it is now in an expensive report from professional and well regard consultants.
 

Could local management have done all of this work for themselves?
 

Yes, if they had the time and the desire.
 

Could the staff have produced all of these good ideas?
 

Yes, if they had the time and the desire.
 

If the States of Guernsey want to save money then they need their various departments to create the time and the desire to change, to constantly seek improvements.
 

The problem is that turkeys seldom vote for Christmas.
 

Why would I want to reduce my departments budget, power and significance unless every other department is doing exactly the same?
 

Why would I want to upset the status quo unless it moves me further up the pecking order?
 

What is needed is an effective Scrutiny department independent of the administration and answerable only to the Chief Minister. A department that can act as external consultants and work anywhere within the States empire either by invitation or by their own desire.
 

Only by rising out of the departmental silos will we ever achieve joined up and cost effective government.
 

Will it ever happen?
 

Not until we have a system which gives the Chief Minister some effective power and an incumbent who is willing to clean the stables.

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